Adam Barrett has been made available for transfer by the Gills.

The experienced defender has been a regular at the back for the last two seasons and skippered the League 2 title-winning team.

But boss Peter Taylor admits Barrett will no longer be first choice and has taken the decision to let him move clubs before the start of the season.

Taylor said: “I have spoken to him and he has been good as gold. I said to him, I don’t think that he will be an automatic choice, simple as that.

“We are going to make him available and that will give him more chance to get another club.”

Barrett was made Gills skipper under former boss Martin Allen. He continued in that role during last season when Taylor took over.

The 34-year-old, who has a year left on his contract, has made 88 league appearances for the Gills over the past two seasons.

But with the arrival on Monday of Wolves teenager Kortney Hause, Taylor felt now was the time to make a change.

The Gills boss said: “It hasn’t been an easy decision for me because he is such a top professional, unbelievable, and he has come back as fit as I have seen him.

“But in the end I have decided that maybe he won’t be starting many games. He needs to be playing football, he doesn’t need to be a bit-part player at his age. He is still very fit and can handle that easy.

“I am the manager and it doesn’t mean I am right. I might be making the wrong decision here but in the end I have decided that maybe Adam won’t be starting in the team. I owe it to him to be as honest to him as quickly as I make up my mind.

“I have now made up my mind and hopefully the phone will ring for something that he wants to do.”

Barrett won’t be taking part in any of the midweek friendly matches.

“I am going to let him have a night off and he’s not going to be needed on Tuesday,” said Taylor.